Control information sending/receiving method and device

ABSTRACT

A control information sending/receiving method and device are provided, to implement indicating a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminal device in a 5G NR system or a future evolved LTE system. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, broadcast information; determining, from at least two predefined time-domain locations, a time-domain location of a broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information; determining a time-domain location of a control channel based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel; and performing control channel detection in the determined time-domain location of the control channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/750,938, filed on Jan. 23, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/248,454, filed on Jan. 15, 2019, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,548,066, which is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/CN2018/097425, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, which claimspriority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710687956.7, filed on Aug.11, 2017. All of the aforementioned patent applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a method and device ofsending/receiving control information.

BACKGROUND

In an existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a network deviceindicates a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice by using broadcast information, and then the terminal deviceperforms control channel detection in the time-frequency location of thecontrol channel. The broadcast information carries two pieces ofinformation used to indicate, respectively, a time-domain location and afrequency-domain location of the control channel. The control channel isa resource used for control information transmission.

So far, a technical solution for indicating a time-frequency location ofa control channel to a terminal device by a network device has not beendefined for a future 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) system or afuture evolved LTE system. If the technical solution for indicating atime-frequency location of a control channel to a terminal device by anetwork device in the existing LTE system is still used, in the 5G NRsystem or the future evolved LTE system, signaling overheads of the twopieces of information used for indicating the time-domain location andthe frequency-domain location of the control channel are relatively highbecause there may be a plurality of schemes for configuring thetime-frequency location of the control channel in one subframe. As aresult, signaling overheads of the broadcast information are relativelyhigh.

To sum up, a technical solution for indicating a time-frequency locationof a control channel to a terminal device by a network device needs tobe urgently designed for the future 5G NR system or the future evolvedLTE system.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a control informationsending/receiving method and device, to implement that a network deviceindicates a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice in a 5G NR system or a future evolved LTE system, and therebyimplement that the terminal device performs control channel detection inthe time-frequency location of the control channel.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa control information receiving method, including: receiving broadcastinformation; determining, from at least two predefined time-domainlocations, a time-domain location of a broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information; determining a time-domain location of a controlchannel based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel; andperforming control channel detection in the time-domain location of thecontrol channel.

The at least two predefined time-domain locations are time-domainlocations possibly occupied by the broadcast channel within onesubframe. The time-domain location of the broadcast channel is alocation relative to a timeslot boundary, and there may be at least twotime-domain locations for the broadcast channel in one timeslot. Thetime-domain location of the control channel is a location relative tothe timeslot boundary.

According to the method, it can be implemented that a network deviceindicates a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice in a 5G NR system or a future evolved LTE system, so that theterminal device performs control channel detection in the time-frequencylocation of the control channel. Compared with a technical solution thata network device indicates a time-frequency location of a controlchannel to a terminal device in an existing LTE system, this method canreduce signaling overheads for indicating a time-domain location of acontrol channel, thereby reducing signaling overheads of broadcastinformation.

Correspondingly, there are a plurality of methods for determining thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel. The following uses two of theplurality of methods as examples for description.

A first method is: determining an offset based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel, and determining the time-domainlocation of the control channel based on the offset.

By using the first method, the terminal device may determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the offset corresponding to thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, and the broadcastinformation does not need to carry information used for indicating thetime-domain location of the control channel, thereby reducing thesignaling overheads of the broadcast information.

A second method is: determining the time-domain location of the controlchannel based on a correspondence between the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel and the time-domain location of the controlchannel.

By using the second method, the terminal device may determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and a preset correspondence betweenthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel, and the broadcast information does notneed to carry information used for indicating the time-domain locationof the control channel, thereby reducing the signaling overheads of thebroadcast information.

In a possible implementation, preconfiguration of the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is not randomly performed. One of the following optionsneeds to be true between a time-domain location of any broadcast channeland a time-domain location, determined based on the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel, of a control channel:

First option: The time-domain location of the control channel isorthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel.

Second option: The time-domain location of the control channel is thesame or partially the same as a time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel.

Third option: A portion of the time-domain location of the controlchannel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channeland a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, andthe other portion of the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same or partially the same as the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, after the broadcast information isreceived, the time-domain location of the control channel is determinedbased on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asubcarrier width used by a resource in which the control channel islocated, where the received broadcast information includes informationused to indicate the subcarrier width used by the resource in which thecontrol channel is located.

In this way, the terminal device may determine the time-domain locationof the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the subcarrier width used by the resource in whichthe control channel is located, and the broadcast information does notneed to carry information used for indicating the time-domain locationof the control channel, thereby reducing the signaling overheads of thebroadcast information.

In a possible implementation, the time-domain location of the controlchannel is determined from a time-domain resource set based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, where the broadcastinformation includes indication information used for indicating thetime-domain resource set of a control channel.

In this way, the terminal device may determine the time-domain locationof the control channel from the time-domain resource set based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, and the broadcastinformation does not need to carry information used for indicating thetime-domain location of the control channel, thereby reducing thesignaling overheads of the broadcast information.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, system information is received, where thesystem information includes a time-frequency resource of another controlchannel different from the control channel.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa control information sending method, including: sending broadcastinformation, and sending a control channel to a terminal device in atime-domain location of the control channel. The time-domain location ofthe control channel is a location relative to a timeslot boundary, thetime-domain location of the control channel is determined based on atime-domain location of a broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation, and the time-domain location of the broadcast channel is alocation relative to the timeslot boundary.

According to the method, it can be implemented that a network deviceindicates a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice in a 5G NR system or a future evolved LTE system, so that theterminal device performs control channel detection in the time-frequencylocation of the control channel. Compared with a technical solution thata network device indicates a time-frequency location of a controlchannel to a terminal device in an existing LTE system, this method canreduce signaling overheads for indicating a time-domain location of acontrol channel, thereby reducing signaling overheads of broadcastinformation.

In a possible implementation, preconfiguration of the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is not randomly performed. One of the following optionsneeds to be true between a time-domain location of any broadcast channeland a time-domain location, determined based on the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel, of a control channel: The time-domain locationof the control channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same or partially the same as a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; and a portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel, and the other portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is the same or partially the same as a time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the synchronization signalcorresponding to the broadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesinformation used for indicating a subcarrier width used by a resource inwhich the control channel is located. That the time-domain location ofthe control channel is determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information is that thetime-domain location of the control channel is determined based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation and based on the subcarrier width used by the resource inwhich the control channel is located.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesindication information used for indicating a time-domain resource set ofa control channel.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, system information is sent to the terminaldevice, where the system information includes a time-frequency resourceof another control channel different from the control channel.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa control information receiving apparatus. The apparatus may be aterminal device, or may be a chip inside a terminal device. Theapparatus may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. When theapparatus is a terminal device, the processing unit may be a processor,and the transceiver unit may be a transceiver. The terminal device mayfurther include a storage unit, and the storage unit may be a memory.The storage unit is configured to store an instruction, and theprocessing unit executes the instruction stored in the storage unit, sothat the terminal device performs the corresponding function in thefirst aspect. When the apparatus is a chip inside a terminal device, theprocessing unit may be a processor, and the transceiver unit may be aninput/output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. The processingunit executes an instruction stored in a storage unit, so that theterminal device performs the corresponding function in the first aspect.The storage unit may be a storage unit (for example, a register or acache) inside the chip, or may be a storage unit (for example, aread-only memory or a random access memory) located outside the chip yetinside the terminal device.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa control information sending apparatus. The apparatus may be a networkdevice, or may be a chip inside a network device. The apparatus mayinclude a processing unit and a transceiver unit. When the apparatus isa network device, the processing unit may be a processor, and thetransceiver unit may be a transceiver. The network device may furtherinclude a storage unit, and the storage unit may be a memory. Thestorage unit is configured to store an instruction, and the processingunit executes the instruction stored in the storage unit, so that thenetwork device performs the corresponding function in the second aspect.When the apparatus is a chip inside a network device, the processingunit may be a processor, and the transceiver unit may be an input/outputinterface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. The processing unit executesan instruction stored in a storage unit, so that the network deviceperforms the corresponding function in the second aspect. The storageunit may be a storage unit (for example, a register or a cache) insidethe chip, or may be a storage unit (for example, a read-only memory or arandom access memory) located outside the chip yet inside the networkdevice.

According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa computer storage medium. The storage medium stores a software program.When the software program is read and executed by one or moreprocessors, the method in any one of the first aspect and theimplementations of the first aspect can be implemented, or when thesoftware program is read and executed by one or more processors, themethod in any one of the second aspect and the implementations of thesecond aspect can be implemented.

According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa computer program product, where the computer program product includescomputer program code. When the computer program code is executed by acommunications unit and a processing unit, or a transceiver and aprocessor of a communications device (for example, a terminal device ora network device), the communications device performs the method in anyone of the first aspect and the implementations of the first aspect, orthe communications device performs the method in any one of the secondaspect and the implementations of the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of this application furtherprovides a communications system, where the communications systemincludes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal deviceperforms the method in any one of the first aspect and theimplementations of the first aspect, and the network device performs themethod in any one of the second aspect and the implementations of thesecond aspect.

According to an eighth aspect, a chip system is provided. The chipsystem includes a processor, configured to support a terminal device ora network device in implementing the method described in the foregoingaspects, for example, generating or processing data and/or informationin the method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes amemory, where the memory is configured to store necessary programinstructions and data of the terminal device or the network device. Thechip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and anotherdiscrete device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic architectural diagram of a subframe in the priorart;

FIG. 1B is a schematic architectural diagram of a network architectureaccording to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a control informationsending/receiving method according to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic architectural diagram of a subframe according toan embodiment of this application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic architectural diagram of another subframeaccording to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device accordingto an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal deviceaccording to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device accordingto an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another network deviceaccording to an embodiment of this application; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communications systemaccording to an embodiment of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In a 5G NR system or a future evolved LTE system, during control channeldetection, a terminal device needs to learn a time-frequency location ofa control channel. If a technical solution for indicating atime-frequency location of a control channel to a terminal device by anetwork device in an existing LTE system is still used, signalingoverheads of two pieces of information used for indicating a time-domainlocation and a frequency-domain location of the control channel arerelatively high. As a result, signaling overheads of broadcastinformation is relatively high. So far, a technical solution forindicating a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice by a network device has not been defined for the 5G NR system orthe future evolved LTE system.

Therefore, embodiments of this application provide a control informationsending/receiving method and device, to implement that a network deviceindicates a time-frequency location of a control channel to a terminaldevice in the 5G NR system or the future evolved LTE system, andtherefore the terminal device performs control channel detection in thetime-frequency location of the control channel. Compared with thetechnical solution that a network device indicates a time-frequencylocation of a control channel to a terminal device in the conventionalLTE system, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of thisapplication can reduce the signaling overheads for indicating atime-domain location of a control channel, thereby reducing thesignaling overheads of broadcast information. The method and theapparatus are based on a same inventive concept. Because principles ofthe method and the apparatus for resolving a problem are similar, mutualreference may be made between implementation of the apparatus andimplementation of the method, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

In the 5G NR system or the future evolved LTE system, one subframeincludes a plurality of symbols, and one subframe may include differentquantities of timeslots depending on different subcarrier widths. Astructure of one subframe shown in FIG. 1A is used as an example. Eachtimeslot includes 14 symbols with numbers 0 to 13. When a subcarrierwidth is 15 kHz, the subframe includes one timeslot T1. When thesubcarrier width is 30 kHz, the subframe includes two timeslots T2-1 andT2-2. When the subcarrier width is 60 kHz, the subframe includes fourtimeslots T3-1 to T3-4. Symbols in a shadowed area of FIG. 1A may be atime-domain location in which a synchronization signal block is located,that is, a time-domain location that can be occupied by a broadcastchannel. In FIG. 1A, when the subcarrier width is 30 kHz, thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel may be symbols withnumbers 4 to 11 in the timeslot T2-1 and symbols with numbers 2 to 9 inthe timeslot T2-2. Because the broadcast channel may have at least twotime-domain locations in one timeslot, there may be a plurality ofschemes for configuring the time-frequency location of the controlchannel in one subframe.

The technical solution provided in the embodiments of this applicationmay be applicable to a plurality of systems. The system to which thetechnical solution provided in the embodiments of this application isapplicable may be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-basedcommunications system, such as a sparse code multiple access (SCMA)system or a low density signature (LDS) system. The SCMA system and theLDS system may have other names in the field of communications, whichare not enumerated herein. The system to which the technical solutionprovided in the embodiments of this application is applicable may be aNOMA-based multi-carrier communications system, for example, a NOMAsystem, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, afilter bank multicarrier (FBMC) system, a generalized frequency divisionmultiplexing (GFDM) system, or a filtered orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (F-OFDM) system. The system to which the technical solutionprovided in the embodiments of this application is applicable may alsobe the 5G NR system or the future evolved LTE system. The plurality ofsystems all include a terminal device and a network device.

The technical solution provided in the embodiments of this applicationis applicable to a scenario in which control information is transmittedbetween a terminal device and a network device. A schematic diagram of anetwork architecture shown in FIG. 1B is used as an example. FIG. 1Bincludes terminal devices 101 and a network device 102. Only threeterminal devices 101 and one network device 102 are shown in FIG. 1B. Inactual application, there may be one or more terminal devices 101 andone or more network devices 102. The terminal devices 101 are within acoverage area of the network device 102. The network device 102 is usedto provide a communications service for the terminal devices 101, andthe terminal devices 101 can receive broadcast information, controlinformation, and the like that are sent by the network device 102.Arrows shown in FIG. 1B may be used to indicate uplink transmission ordownlink transmission between the terminal devices 101 and the networkdevice 102.

In the embodiments of this application, the terminal device may be anaccess terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobilestation, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a userterminal, a terminal, a wireless communications device, a user agent, ora user apparatus. The access terminal may be a cellular phone, acordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wirelesslocal loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handhelddevice or computing device having a wireless communication function,another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicledevice, a wearable device, user equipment in a 5G system, user equipmentin a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), or the like. Thisis not limited in the embodiments of this application.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the network device may be adevice configured to communicate with user equipment. The network devicemay be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)system, may be a NodeB (NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA) system, or may be an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTEsystem. Alternatively, the network device may be a wireless controllerin a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or may be a relaystation, an access point, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, anetwork device in a 5G system, a network device in a future evolved PLMNnetwork, or the like. This is not limited in the embodiments of thisapplication.

The following explains some terms in the embodiments of thisapplication, to help understanding of a person skilled in the art.

Symbols in the embodiments of this application may be one or acombination of the following types of symbols: OFDM symbols, SCMAsymbols, F-OFDM symbols, NOMA symbols, and the like. This is not limitedin the embodiments.

A subframe is a time-frequency resource that occupies an entire systembandwidth in frequency domain, and has a fixed time length, for example,1 millisecond, in time domain.

A timeslot is a basic time-frequency resource unit. One timeslot mayinclude at least one symbol. For example, one timeslot may include 7 or14 consecutive OFDM symbols.

A subcarrier width is a finest granularity of frequency-domainresources. For example, in an LTE system, a subcarrier width of onesubcarrier may be 15 kilohertz (kHz), and in a 5G system, a width of onesubcarrier may be one of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, and 60 kHz.

A physical resource block may occupy a frequency-domain resource of Pconsecutive subcarriers in frequency domain, and may occupy atime-domain resource of Q consecutive OFDM symbols in time domain, whereboth P and Q are natural numbers greater than or equal to 1. Forexample, one physical resource block may occupy 12 consecutivesubcarriers in frequency domain and occupy 7 consecutive OFDM symbols intime domain. For the physical resource block, a value of P may be 12 anda value of Q may be 7; or the value of P may be 12 and the value of Qmay be 14; or the value of P may be 12 and the value of Q may be 1.

A resource element group may occupy a frequency-domain resource of Pconsecutive subcarriers in frequency domain, and may occupy atime-domain resource of one OFDM symbol in time domain, where P is anatural number greater than 1. For example, one resource element groupmay occupy 12 consecutive subcarriers in frequency domain.

For a control channel unit, one control channel unit may becorresponding to a plurality of resource element groups, and a quantityof resource element groups corresponding to one control channel unit isfixed, for example, six resource element groups corresponding to onecontrol channel unit.

A relationship between a broadcast channel and a control channel is oneor a combination of the following relationships: a reference signal ofthe broadcast channel is quasi-co-located (QCL) with a reference signalof the control channel; and the reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a synchronization signal of the control channel. Thereference signal of the broadcast channel, the reference signal of thecontrol channel, and the synchronization signal of the control channelmay be carried in one synchronization signal block (SS block).

A plurality means at least two.

In addition, it should be understood that the terms “first”, “second”,and the like in descriptions of the embodiments of this application aremerely intended for distinguished description, and should not beinterpreted as an indication or implication of relative importance, oras an indication or implication of ordering.

The following further describes in detail the embodiments of thisapplication with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of this application provides a control informationreceiving method. The method is applicable to a 5G system or a futureevolved LTE system. FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of the controlinformation receiving method, including the following steps.

Step 201: A terminal device receives broadcast information.

In step 201, the terminal device receives, through blind detection in atleast two predefined time-domain locations, the broadcast informationsent by a network device.

The at least two predefined time-domain locations are time-domainlocations possibly occupied by a broadcast channel within one subframe.A structure of one subframe shown in FIG. 1A is used as an example. Eachtimeslot includes 14 symbols with numbers 0 to 13. When a subcarrierwidth is 15 kHz, the subframe includes one timeslot T1. When thesubcarrier width is 30 kHz, the subframe includes two timeslots T2-1 andT2-2. When the subcarrier width is 60 kHz, the subframe includes fourtimeslots T3-1 to T3-4. Symbols in a shadowed area of FIG. 1A may be atime-domain location in which a synchronization signal block is located,that is, a time-domain location that can be occupied by the broadcastchannel. In FIG. 1A, when the subcarrier width is 30 kHz, thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel may be symbols withnumbers 4 to 11 in the timeslot T2-1 and symbols with numbers 2 to 9 inthe timeslot T2-2. There may be at least two time-domain locations forthe broadcast channel in one timeslot.

Step 202: After receiving the broadcast information, the terminal devicedetermines, from at least two predefined time-domain locations, atime-domain location of a broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation.

The time-domain location of the broadcast channel is a location relativeto a timeslot boundary, and the timeslot boundary is usually a startboundary of a timeslot (or referred to as a left boundary of thetimeslot). The timeslot boundary in this embodiment may alternatively bean end boundary of the timeslot (or referred to as a right boundary ofthe timeslot). For example, a start symbol of a timeslot is a symbolwith a number 0, and the timeslot boundary is usually a left boundary ofthe symbol with the number 0. In an example that the timeslot boundaryis a start boundary of a timeslot, that the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel is a location relative to a timeslot boundary can beunderstood as: that the time-domain location of the broadcast channel isa location relative to the start boundary of the timeslot. In this case,if the time-domain location of the broadcast channel is a 4^(th) symbolin the timeslot, the time-domain location of the broadcast channel isthe 4^(th) symbol relative to the start boundary of the timeslot.

In this embodiment, step 202 may be implemented in the following twomanners:

Manner 1: The broadcast information received by the terminal deviceincludes time-domain location indication information.

The time-domain location indication information may be used to indicatethe time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation. The broadcast information is the broadcast informationreceived by the terminal device in step 201, and the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information isone of the at least two predefined time-domain locations. For example,the time-domain location indication information may be represented by abit carried in the broadcast information.

Manner 2: The terminal device receives other indication information thatis used to indicate the time-domain location of the broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information.

In manner 2, the other indication information includes but is notlimited to first indication information and second indicationinformation. The first indication information is used to indicate alocation type of the time-domain location of the broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information, and each location type of thetime-domain location respectively includes at least one time-domainlocation. The second indication information is used to indicate thetime-domain location, in the location type indicated by the firstindication information, of the broadcast channel for carrying thebroadcast information. The second indication information may be carriedin a reference signal of the broadcast channel. For example, thereference signal of the broadcast channel includes second indicationinformation of which a bit sequence length is 3 bits. Alternatively, apart of the second indication information is carried in a referencesignal of the broadcast channel, and the other part of the secondindication information may be carried in system information (MIB). Forexample, a bit sequence length of the second indication information is 6bits, the reference signal of the broadcast channel includes first 3bits of the 6 bits, and the MIB includes information of last 3 bits ofthe 6 bits.

In step 202, the terminal device receives first indication informationsent by the network device, and determines, from at least two presetlocation types of time-domain locations based on the first indicationinformation, a location type of the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel carrying the broadcast information. The terminaldevice receives second indication information sent by the networkdevice, and determines, based on the second indication information, thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel for carrying the broadcastinformation from at least one time-domain location corresponding to thedetermined location type of the time-domain location.

For example, it is assumed that the following two location types oftime-domain locations are preset:

Location type 1: The location type 1 includes eight time-domainlocations, which are symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot n,symbols with numbers 6 to 9 in the timeslot n, symbols with numbers 4 to7 in a timeslot n+1, symbols with numbers 8 to 11 in the timeslot n+1,symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot n+2, symbols with numbers 6 to9 in the timeslot n+2, symbols with numbers 4 to 7 in a timeslot n+3,and symbols with numbers 8 to 11 in the timeslot n+3.

Location type 2: The location type 2 includes 64 time-domain locations,which are symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot n, symbols withnumbers 8 to 11 in the timeslot n, symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in atimeslot n+1, symbols with numbers 8 to 11 in a timeslot n+1, symbolswith numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot n+7, and symbols with numbers 8 to 11in the timeslot n+7, and so on.

It should be noted that the foregoing location type 1 and location type2 are merely examples, and do not represent all location types oftime-domain locations.

Based on the foregoing location type 1 and location type 2, thefollowing describes step 202 in two cases.

Case 1: It is assumed that, in step 202, the terminal device receivesfirst indication information sent by the network device, and determines,based on the first indication information, that a location type of thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is the location type 1. The terminal device receives areference signal of the broadcast channel sent by the network device,and the reference signal of the broadcast channel includes secondindication information with a value of 5. In this case, the terminaldevice determines, from the eight time-domain locations corresponding tothe location type 1, a 5^(th) time-domain location as the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information.

Case 2: It is assumed that, in step 202, the terminal device receivesfirst indication information sent by the network device, and determines,based on the first indication information, that a location type of thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is the location type 2. The terminal device receives areference signal and a MIB of the broadcast channel sent by the networkdevice, and the value of the second indication information jointlyindicated by the reference signal and the MIB of the broadcast channelis 32. In this case, the terminal device determines, from the 64time-domain locations corresponding to the location type 2, a 32^(nd)time-domain location as the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information.

Step 203: The terminal device determines a time-domain location of acontrol channel based on the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel.

In step 203, the time-domain location of the broadcast channel is thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation, determined in step 202.

The time-domain location of the control channel is a location relativeto a timeslot boundary, and the timeslot boundary is usually a startboundary of a timeslot (or referred to as a left boundary of thetimeslot). The timeslot boundary in this embodiment may alternatively bean end boundary of the timeslot (or referred to as a right boundary ofthe timeslot). For example, a start symbol of a timeslot is a symbolwith a number 0, and the timeslot boundary is usually a left boundary ofthe symbol with the number 0. That the timeslot boundary is a startboundary of a timeslot is used as an example. That the time-domainlocation of the control channel is a location relative to a timeslotboundary can be understood as: that the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is a location relative to the start boundary of thetimeslot. In this case, if the time-domain location of the controlchannel is a 5^(th) symbol in the timeslot, the time-domain location ofthe control channel is the 5^(th) symbol relative to the start boundaryof the timeslot.

In this embodiment, there may be a plurality of methods for the terminaldevice to determine the time-domain location of the control channelbased on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel. Thefollowing uses three of the plurality of methods as examples to describestep 203.

First method: In step 203, the terminal device determines an offsetbased on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel, where theoffset is a time-domain offset between the time-domain location of thecontrol channel and the time-domain location of the broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information. The offset is usually indicated by aquantity of symbols shifted to left or a quantity of symbols shifted toright. The terminal device determines the time-domain location of thecontrol channel based on the offset and the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel carrying the broadcast information. To be specific, atime-domain location obtained by the terminal device by adding theoffset to or subtracting the offset from the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel carrying the broadcast information is the time-domainlocation of the control channel.

In the first method, a correspondence between the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel and the offset determined based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel is preset. Thecorrespondence may be protocol-specified. In this case, thecorrespondence is known to the network device and the terminal device.Alternatively, the network device sends the correspondence to theterminal device after determining the correspondence. The correspondencebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and the offsetdetermined based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel isdetermined when the time-domain location of the broadcast channel andthe time-domain location of the control channel are preconfigured. Onetime-domain location of the broadcast channel is corresponding to oneoffset, or a plurality of time-domain locations of the broadcast channelis corresponding to one offset. This is not limited in this embodiment.Therefore, in this embodiment, the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and the time-domain location of the control channel need to bepreconfigured. The following describes preconfiguration of thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel.

For example, it is assumed that the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel carrying the broadcast information is a symbol with anumber 3 in a timeslot T, and that the offset corresponding to thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel is 1 symbol shifted toright. Then, the time-domain location of the control channel is a symbolwith a number 4 in the timeslot T.

By using the first method, the terminal device may determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the offset corresponding to thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, and therefore thebroadcast information does not need to carry information used forindicating the time-domain location of the control channel, therebyreducing signaling overheads of the broadcast information.

Second method: In step 203, the terminal device determines thetime-domain location of the control channel based on a correspondencebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location of the control channel.

The correspondence between the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and the time-domain location of the control channel is preset.The correspondence may be protocol-specified. In this case, thecorrespondence is known to the network device and the terminal device.Alternatively, the network device sends the correspondence to theterminal device after determining the correspondence. The correspondencebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location of the control channel is determined when thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel are preconfigured. Therefore, in thisembodiment, the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location of the control channel need to be preconfigured.The following describes preconfiguration of the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel and the time-domain location of the controlchannel.

For example, it is assumed that the correspondence between thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel is shown in Table 1. Each row in Table 1represents one correspondence between the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel.When the terminal device determines, in step 202, that the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information issymbols with numbers 2 to 5, it can be learned from Table 1 that thetime-domain location of the control channel is 0 to 1. In this case, itis assumed that a subcarrier width of the broadcast channel and asubcarrier width of the control channel are both 15 kHz.

TABLE 1 Subcarrier width Time-domain Subcarrier width Time-domaincovered location covered location by a (number by a (number resource inof resource in of which the symbol) which the symbol) broadcast of thecontrol of the channel is broadcast channel is control located channellocated channel 15 kHz 2 to 5 15 kHz 0 to 1 15 kHz 8 to 9 15 kHz 7 30kHz 4 to 7 30 kHz 0 to 1 30 kHz 8 to 11 30 kHz 2 to 3

It should be noted that correspondences, listed in Table 1, between thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel are merely examples, and do notrepresent all correspondences between the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel.

By using the second method, the terminal device may determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the preset correspondence betweenthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel and the time-domainlocation of the control channel, and the broadcast information does notneed to carry information used for indicating the time-domain locationof the control channel, thereby reducing signaling overheads of thebroadcast information.

Third method: In step 203, the terminal device determines thetime-domain location of the control channel from a time-domain resourceset based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel.

When the broadcast information includes indication information used forindicating a time-domain resource set of the control channel, theterminal device may determine, based on the indication information, atime-domain resource set in which the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is located, and determine, from the time-domain resourceset based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel, thetime-domain location of the control channel corresponding to thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel.

For example, it is assumed that there is an optional time-domainresource set 0 and an optional time-domain resource set 1. Thetime-domain resource set 0 includes a symbol A and a symbol B, and thetime-domain resource set 1 includes a symbol C and a symbol D.Time-domain locations of the broadcast channel corresponding to thesymbols A, B, C, and D are sequentially locations 0, 1, 2, and 3. If theindication information is used to indicate the time-domain resource set0 of the control channel, the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel is the location 0. In this case, the terminal device determines,from the time-domain resource set 0 based on the indication informationand the time-domain location of the broadcast channel, the symbol A asthe time-domain location of the control channel corresponding to thetime-domain location (that is, the location 0) of the broadcast channel.

By using the third method, the terminal device may determine thetime-domain location of the control channel from the time-domainresource set based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel,and the broadcast information does not need to carry information usedfor indicating the time-domain location of the control channel, therebyreducing signaling overheads of the broadcast information.

In this embodiment, if a subcarrier width of the control channel isconsidered during preconfiguration of the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel,that is, if the time-domain location of the control channel is jointlydetermined by the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thesubcarrier width of the control channel, the network device sends thesubcarrier width of the control channel to the terminal device. In thiscase, the terminal device determines the time-domain location of thecontrol channel based on the subcarrier width of the control channel andthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation.

For example, the correspondence between the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel isshown in Table 2. When the terminal device determines, in step 202, thatthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is symbols with numbers 2 to 5, if the subcarrier width ofthe control channel is 15 kHz, it can be learned from Table 2 that thetime-domain location of the control channel is a symbol with a number 0;and if the subcarrier width of the control channel is 30 kHz, it can belearned from Table 2 that the time-domain location of the controlchannel is a symbol with a number 1.

TABLE 2 Subcarrier width Time-domain Subcarrier width Time-domaincovered by a location covered by location resource (number of a resource(number in which the symbol) in which of broadcast of the the controlsymbol) of channel broadcast channel the control is located channel islocated channel 15 kHz 2 to 5 15 kHz 0 30 kHz 1 30 kHz 4 to 7 15 kHz 6to 7 30 kHz 2 to 3

After determining the time-domain location of the control channel instep 203, the terminal device performs step 204.

Step 204: The terminal device performs control channel detection in thetime-domain location of the control channel.

Before step 204, the terminal device also needs to know afrequency-domain location of the control channel, and then the terminaldevice determines a time-frequency location of the control channel basedon the time-domain location of the control channel and thefrequency-domain location of the control channel. Therefore, in step204, the terminal device performs control channel detection in thetime-frequency location of the control channel. A method in the priorart may be used for performing control channel detection by the terminaldevice in the time-frequency location of the control channel, anddetails are not described herein. A method in the prior art can be usedfor determining the frequency-domain location of the control channel bythe terminal device. For example, the terminal device may determine thefrequency-domain location of the control channel based on informationthat is about the frequency-domain location of the control channel andthat is included in the broadcast information. Details are not describedherein.

In this embodiment, the time-domain location of the broadcast channeland the time-domain location of the control channel need to bepreconfigured. Through this preconfiguration process, a correspondencebetween a time-domain location of any broadcast channel and atime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of a control channel is learned. Certainly, inthis embodiment, preconfiguration of the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel isnot randomly performed. One of the following options needs to be truebetween a time-domain location of any broadcast channel and atime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of a control channel:

First option: The time-domain location of the control channel isorthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel.

In the first option, the time-domain location of the control channel isorthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channel, and thetime-domain location of the control channel is orthogonal to thetime-domain location of the synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel.

Second option: The time-domain location of the control channel is thesame or partially the same as a time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel.

In the second option, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same as the time-domain location of the broadcast channel, or thetime-domain location of the control channel is the same as a portion ofthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel. The time-domainlocation of the control channel is the same as the time-domain locationof the synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, orthe time-domain location of the control channel is the same as a portionof the time-domain location of the synchronization signal correspondingto the broadcast channel.

Third option: A portion of the time-domain location of the controlchannel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channeland a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, andthe other portion of the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same or partially the same as a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel.

In the third option, a portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is orthogonal to the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, and the other portion of the time-domain location ofthe control channel may be exactly the same as the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel. Alternatively, a portion of the time-domainlocation of the control channel is orthogonal to the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel, and the other portion of thetime-domain location of the control channel may be partially the same asthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel. Alternatively, aportion of the time-domain location of the control channel is orthogonalto the time-domain location of the synchronization signal correspondingto the broadcast channel, and the other portion of the time-domainlocation of the control channel may be exactly the same as thetime-domain location of the synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel. Alternatively, a portion of the time-domain locationof the control channel is orthogonal to the time-domain location of thesynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, and theother portion of the time-domain location of the control channel may bepartially the same as the time-domain location of the synchronizationsignal corresponding to the broadcast channel.

When one of the foregoing options is true between a time-domain locationof any broadcast channel and a time-domain location, determined based onthe time-domain location of the broadcast channel, of a control channel,the correspondence between the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and the time-domain location, determined based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, of the control channel isdescribed below by using examples.

In a first example, taking a subframe structure shown in FIG. 3 as anexample, the correspondence between the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and the time-domain location of the control channel isdescribed by using three different subcarrier widths with.

When subcarrier widths covered by resources in which the broadcastchannel and the control channel are located are both 15 kHz, if thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel is symbols with numbers 2to 5, the time-domain location of the control channel is symbols withnumbers 0 to 1; and if the time-domain location of the broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information is symbols with numbers 8 to 11, thetime-domain location of the control channel is a symbol with a number 7.

When subcarrier widths covered by resources in which the broadcastchannel and the control channel are located are both 30 kHz, if thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is symbols with numbers 4 to 7 in a 1^(st) timeslot, thetime-domain location of the control channel is symbols with numbers 0 to1 in the 1^(st) timeslot; if the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information is symbols with numbers 8 to11 in the 1^(st) timeslot, the time-domain location of the controlchannel is symbols with numbers 2 to 3 in the 1^(st) timeslot; if thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a 2^(nd) timeslot, thetime-domain location of the control channel is a symbol with a number 0in the 2^(nd) timeslot; and if the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information is symbols with numbers 6 to9 in the 2^(nd) timeslot, the determined time-domain location of thecontrol channel is a symbol with a number 1 in the 2^(nd) timeslot.

When subcarrier widths covered by resources in which the broadcastchannel and the control channel are located are both 60 kHz, if thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcastinformation is symbols with numbers 8 to 11 in a 1^(st) timeslot, thetime-domain location of the control channel is symbols with numbers 0 to1 in the 1^(st) timeslot; if the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information is symbols with numbers 12 to13 in the 1^(st) timeslot and symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in a 2ndtimeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel is symbolswith numbers 2 to 3 in the 1^(st) timeslot; if the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information is symbolswith numbers 6 to 9 in the 2nd timeslot, the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is symbols with numbers 6 to 7 in the 1^(st) timeslot;if the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is symbols with numbers 4 to 7 in a 3^(rd)timeslot, the determined time-domain location of the control channel isa symbol with a number 0 in the 3^(rd) timeslot; and if the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information issymbols with numbers 8 to 11 in the 3^(rd) timeslot, the determinedtime-domain location of the control channel is a symbol with a number 1in the 3^(rd) timeslot; if the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information is symbols with numbers 12 to13 in the 3^(rd) timeslot and symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in a 4thtimeslot, the determined time-domain location of the control channel isa symbol with a number 2 in the 3^(rd) timeslot; and if the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information issymbols with numbers 2 to 5 in the 4^(th) timeslot, the determinedtime-domain location of the control channel is a symbol with a number 3in the 3^(rd) timeslot.

In a second example, taking a subframe structure shown in FIG. 4 as anexample, the following several correspondences between the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the time-domain location of thecontrol channel are included. It is assumed that a subcarrier widthcovered by a resource in which the broadcast channel is located is 30kHz.

If the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is symbols with numbers 4 to 7 in a 1^(st)timeslot, a time-domain location of a control channel with a coveredsubcarrier width 15 kHz is a symbol with a number 0; a time-domainlocation of a control channel with a covered subcarrier width 30 kHz isa symbol with a number 0 in a 1^(st) timeslot; and a time-domainlocation of a control channel with a covered subcarrier width 60 kHz issymbols with number 0 and 1 in a 1^(st) timeslot.

If the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is symbols with numbers 8 to 11 in the 1^(st)timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel with a coveredsubcarrier width 15 kHz is a symbol with a number 1; the time-domainlocation of the control channel with a covered subcarrier width 30 kHzis symbols with numbers 2 to 3 in the 1^(st) timeslot; and thetime-domain location of the control channel with a covered subcarrierwidth 60 kHz is symbols with numbers 2 and 3 in the Pt timeslot.

If the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a 2^(nd)timeslot, a time-domain location of a control channel of a higher halfof a frequency band with a covered subcarrier width 15 kHz is a symbolwith a number 7; the time-domain location of the control channel with acovered subcarrier width 30 kHz is a symbol with a number 0 in a 2^(nd)timeslot; and the time-domain location of the control channel with acovered subcarrier width 60 kHz is a symbol with a number 1 in a 3rdtimeslot.

If the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is symbols with numbers 6 to 9 in the 2^(nd)timeslot, a time-domain location of a control channel of a lower half ofthe frequency band with a covered subcarrier width 15 kHz is the symbolwith the number 7; the time-domain location of the control channel witha covered subcarrier width 30 kHz is a symbol with a number 1 in the2^(nd) timeslot; and the time-domain location of the control channelwith a covered subcarrier width 60 kHz is the symbol with the number 1in the 3^(rd) timeslot.

In a possible implementation, the terminal device receives systeminformation, where the system information includes a time-frequencyresource of another control channel different from the control channel.The system information includes but is not limited to time-domainlocation indication information. The time-domain location indicationinformation herein is similar to the time-domain location indicationinformation in the foregoing step 202. Refer to related descriptions ofthe time-domain location indication information in step 202, and detailsare not described herein again. By using the foregoing method, theterminal device may perform control channel detection in the time-domainlocation of the control channel, so that rate matching can be performedduring control channel detection by the terminal device, therebyavoiding a control information transmission failure caused byinterference from another control channel and ensuring performance ofcontrol information transmission.

This embodiment of this application provides the control informationreceiving method. The network device indicates the time-frequencylocation of the control channel to the terminal device, and the terminaldevice performs control channel detection in the time-frequency locationof the control channel. Compared with a technical solution that anetwork device indicates a time-frequency location of a control channelto a terminal device in an existing LTE system, the technical solutionprovided in this embodiment of this application can reduce signalingoverheads for indicating the time-domain location of the controlchannel, thereby reducing the signaling overheads of the broadcastinformation.

Based on a same inventive concept, an embodiment of this applicationfurther provides a terminal device. The terminal device is capable ofimplementing the method performed by the terminal device in the methodprovided in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 5,the terminal device includes: a transceiver unit 501 and a processingunit 502.

The transceiver unit 501 is configured to receive broadcast information.

The processing unit 502 is configured to determine, from at least twopredefined time-domain locations, a time-domain location of a broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information that is received by thetransceiver unit 501, where the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel is a location relative to a timeslot boundary; and determine atime-domain location of a control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel, where the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is a location relative to the timeslot boundary.

The transceiver unit 501 is further configured to perform controlchannel detection in the time-domain location of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, when determining the time-domain locationof the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processing unit 502 is configured to: determinean offset based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel;and determine the time-domain location of the control channel based onthe offset.

In a possible implementation, when determining the time-domain locationof the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processing unit 502 is configured to: determinethe time-domain location of the control channel based on acorrespondence between the time-domain location of the broadcast channeland the time-domain location of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, one of the following options is truebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of the control channel: The time-domain locationof the control channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same or partially the same as a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; and a portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel, and the other portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is the same or partially the same as the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the synchronization signalcorresponding to the broadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesinformation used for indicating a subcarrier width used by a resource inwhich the control channel is located. When determining the time-domainlocation of the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processing unit 502 is configured to: determinethe time-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the subcarrier width used by theresource in which the control channel is located.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesindication information used for indicating a time-domain resource set ofa control channel. When determining the time-domain location of thecontrol channel based on the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel, the processing unit 502 is configured to: determine thetime-domain location of the control channel from the time-domainresource set based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 501 is furtherconfigured to receive system information, where the system informationincludes a time-frequency resource of another control channel differentfrom the control channel.

It should be noted that the unit division in this embodiment of thisapplication is an example, and is merely logical function division andmay be other division in actual implementation. The functional units inthis embodiment of this application may be integrated into oneprocessing unit, or each of the units may exist alone physically, or twoor more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may beimplemented in a form of hardware, or may be implemented in a form of asoftware functional unit.

When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a softwarefunctional unit and sold or used as an independent product, theintegrated unit may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of thisapplication essentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, orall or a part of the technical solution may be implemented in the formof a software product. The software product is stored in a storagemedium and includes several instructions for instructing a computerdevice (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device)or a processor to perform all or some of the steps of the methoddescribed in the embodiments of this application. The foregoing storagemedium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a USBflash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a randomaccess memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

Based on a same inventive concept, an embodiment of this applicationfurther provides a terminal device. The terminal device uses the methodperformed by the terminal device in the method provided in theembodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, and may be a same device as theterminal device shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 6, the terminaldevice includes a processor 601, a transceiver 602, and a memory 603.

The processor 601 is configured to read a program in the memory 603 andperform the following process:

The processor 601 is configured to receive broadcast information byusing the transceiver 602.

The processor 601 is further configured to: determine, from at least twopredefined time-domain locations, a time-domain location of a broadcastchannel carrying the broadcast information that is received by thetransceiver 602, where the time-domain location of the broadcast channelis a location relative to a timeslot boundary; and determine atime-domain location of a control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel, where the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is a location relative to the timeslot boundary.

The processor 601 is further configured to detect, by using thetransceiver 602, the control channel in the time-domain location of thecontrol channel.

The transceiver 602 is configured to receive and send data under controlof the processor 601. The transceiver 602 may alternatively be acommunications module, and the communications module includes acommunications interface used for receiving data and/or sending data.

In a possible implementation, when determining the time-domain locationof the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processor 601 is configured to: determine anoffset based on the time-domain location of the broadcast channel; anddetermine the time-domain location of the control channel based on theoffset.

In a possible implementation, when determining the time-domain locationof the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processor 601 is configured to: determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on a correspondencebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, one of the following options is truebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of the control channel: The time-domain locationof the control channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; the time-domain location of the control channel isthe same or partially the same as a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel and a synchronization signal corresponding to thebroadcast channel; and a portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is orthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and a synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel, and the other portion of the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is the same or partially the same as the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the synchronization signalcorresponding to the broadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesinformation used for indicating a subcarrier width used by a resource inwhich the control channel is located. When determining the time-domainlocation of the control channel based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the processor 601 is configured to: determine thetime-domain location of the control channel based on the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel and the subcarrier width used by theresource in which the control channel is located.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesindication information used for indicating a time-domain resource set ofa control channel. When determining the time-domain location of thecontrol channel based on the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel, the processor 601 is configured to: determine the time-domainlocation of the control channel from the time-domain resource set basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, the processor 601 is further configured toreceive system information by using the transceiver 602, where thesystem information includes a time-frequency resource of another controlchannel different from the control channel.

The processor 601, the transceiver 602, and the memory 603 are connectedto each other by using a bus. The bus may be a peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard architecture(EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be classified into an address bus,a data bus, a control bus, and the like.

In FIG. 6, a bus architecture may include any quantity of interconnectedbuses and bridges, and connects circuits that are of one or moreprocessors represented by the processor 601 and of a memory representedby the memory 603. The bus architecture may further connect variousother circuits such as a peripheral device, a voltage stabilizer, and apower management circuit. These are well known in the art, and thereforeare not further described in this specification. The bus interfaceprovides an interface. The transceiver 602 may be a plurality ofcomponents, including a transmitter and a transceiver, and providesunits configured for communicating with various other apparatuses on atransmission medium. The processor 601 is responsible for management ofthe bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 603 maystore data that is used by the processor 601 during an operation.

Optionally, the processor 601 may be a central processing unit, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

Based on a same inventive concept, an embodiment of this applicationfurther provides a network device. The network device is capable ofimplementing the method performed by the network device in the methodprovided in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 7,the network device includes a transceiver unit 701.

The transceiver unit 701 is configured to send broadcast information,and send a control channel to a terminal device in a time-domainlocation of the control channel.

The time-domain location of the control channel is a location relativeto a timeslot boundary, the time-domain location of the control channelis determined based on a time-domain location of a broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information, and the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel is a location relative to the timeslot boundary.

In a possible implementation, one of the following options is truebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of the control channel:

the time-domain location of the control channel is orthogonal to atime-domain location of the broadcast channel and a synchronizationsignal corresponding to the broadcast channel;

the time-domain location of the control channel is the same or partiallythe same as a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel; and

a portion of the time-domain location of the control channel isorthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, and theother portion of the time-domain location of the control channel is thesame or partially the same as the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and the synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesinformation used for indicating a subcarrier width used by a resource inwhich the control channel is located.

That the time-domain location of the control channel is determined basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is:

that the time-domain location of the control channel is determined basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information and based on the subcarrier width used by theresource in which the control channel is located.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesindication information used for indicating a time-domain resource set ofa control channel.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit 701 is furtherconfigured to send system information to the terminal device, where thesystem information includes a time-frequency resource of another controlchannel different from the control channel.

It should be noted that the unit division in this embodiment of thisapplication is an example, and is merely logical function division andmay be other division in actual implementation. The functional units inthis embodiment of this application may be integrated into oneprocessing unit, or each of the units may exist alone physically, or twoor more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may beimplemented in a form of hardware, or may be implemented in a form of asoftware functional unit.

When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a softwarefunctional unit and sold or used as an independent product, theintegrated unit may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of thisapplication essentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, orall or a part of the technical solution may be implemented in the formof a software product. The software product is stored in a storagemedium and includes several instructions for instructing a computerdevice (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device)or a processor to perform all or some of the steps of the methoddescribed in the embodiments of this application. The foregoing storagemedium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a USBflash drive, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or anoptical disc.

Based on a same inventive concept, an embodiment of this applicationfurther provides a network device. The network device uses the methodperformed by the network device in the method provided in the embodimentcorresponding to FIG. 2, and may be a same device as the network deviceshown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 8, the network device includes aprocessor 801, a transceiver 802, and a memory 803.

The processor 801 is configured to read a program in the memory 803 andperform the following process.

The processor 801 is further configured to send broadcast information byusing the transceiver 802, and send a control channel to a terminaldevice in a time-domain location of the control channel, where thetime-domain location of the control channel is a location relative to atimeslot boundary, the time-domain location of the control channel isdetermined based on a time-domain location of a broadcast channelcarrying the broadcast information, and the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel is a location relative to the timeslot boundary.

The transceiver 802 is configured to receive and send data under controlof the processor 801. The transceiver 802 may alternatively be acommunications module, and the communications module includes acommunications interface used for receiving data and/or sending data.

In a possible implementation, one of the following options is truebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location, determined based on the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel, of the control channel:

the time-domain location of the control channel is orthogonal to atime-domain location of the broadcast channel and a synchronizationsignal corresponding to the broadcast channel;

the time-domain location of the control channel is the same or partiallythe same as a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel; and

a portion of the time-domain location of the control channel isorthogonal to a time-domain location of the broadcast channel and asynchronization signal corresponding to the broadcast channel, and theother portion of the time-domain location of the control channel is thesame or partially the same as the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel and the synchronization signal corresponding to the broadcastchannel.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesinformation used for indicating a subcarrier width used by a resource inwhich the control channel is located.

That the time-domain location of the control channel is determined basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information is:

that the time-domain location of the control channel is determined basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel carrying thebroadcast information and based on the subcarrier width used by theresource in which the control channel is located.

In a possible implementation, the broadcast information includesindication information used for indicating a time-domain resource set ofa control channel.

In a possible implementation, a reference signal of the broadcastchannel is QCL with a reference signal of the control channel, and/orthe reference signal of the broadcast channel is QCL with asynchronization signal of the control channel.

In a possible implementation, the processor 801 is further configured tosend system information to the terminal device by using the transceiver802, where the system information includes a time-frequency resource ofanother control channel different from the control channel.

The processor 801, the transceiver 802, and the memory 803 are connectedto each other by using a bus. The bus may be a PCI bus, an EISA bus, orthe like. The bus may be classified into an address bus, a data bus, acontrol bus, and the like.

In FIG. 8, a bus architecture may include any quantity of interconnectedbuses and bridges, and connects circuits that are of one or moreprocessors represented by the processor 801 and of a memory representedby the memory 803. The bus architecture may further connect variousother circuits such as a peripheral device, a voltage stabilizer, and apower management circuit. These are well known in the art, and thereforeare not further described in this specification. The bus interfaceprovides an interface. The transceiver 802 may be a plurality ofcomponents, including a transmitter and a transceiver, and providesunits configured for communicating with various other apparatuses on atransmission medium. The processor 801 is responsible for management ofthe bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 803 maystore data that is used by the processor 801 during an operation.

Optionally, the processor 801 may be a central processing unit, an ASIC,an FPGA, or a CPLD.

An embodiment of this application provides a computer storage medium.The storage medium stores a software program. When the software programis read and executed by one or more processors, the control informationreceiving method performed by the terminal device in the foregoingembodiments can be implemented, or when the software program is read andexecuted by one or more processors, the control information sendingmethod performed by the network device in the foregoing embodiments canbe implemented.

An embodiment of this application further provides a control informationreceiving apparatus. The apparatus includes a chip. The chip isconfigured to execute the method performed by the terminal device in theforegoing control information receiving method, and the chip performs,by using a transceiver (or a communications module), the method in whichthe terminal device receives data and/or information in the foregoingcontrol information receiving method. Alternatively, the chip isconfigured to execute the method performed by the network device in theforegoing control information sending method, and the chip performs, byusing the transceiver (or the communications module), the method inwhich the network device transmits data and/or information in theforegoing control information sending method.

An embodiment of this application provides a computer program productthat includes an instruction. When the program runs on a computer, thecomputer is enabled to perform the control information receiving methodperformed by the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, or thecomputer is enabled to perform the control information sending methodperformed by the network device in the foregoing embodiments.

Based on a same inventive concept, an embodiment of this applicationfurther provides a communications system. As shown in FIG. 9, thecommunications system includes a terminal device 901 and a networkdevice 902. The terminal device 901 is configured to perform the methodperformed by the terminal device in the method provided in theembodiment corresponding to FIG. 2, and the terminal device 901 may be asame device as the terminal device shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. Thenetwork device 902 is configured to perform the method provided in thenetwork device in the method provided in the embodiment corresponding toFIG. 2, and the network device 902 may be a same device as the networkdevice shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8. The communications system canimplement the control information receiving method and the controlinformation sending method that are provided in the embodiments of thisapplication.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of thepresent invention, but are not intended to limit the protection scope ofthe present invention. Any variation or replacement readily figured outby a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed inthe present invention shall fall within the protection scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the presentinvention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control information receiving method applied toa control information receiving apparatus, the method comprising:receiving broadcast information carried in a broadcast channel, whereinthe broadcast information includes indication information indicating atime-domain resource set of control channels; determining a time-domainlocation of a control channel from the time-domain resource set based ona time-domain location of the broadcast channel, wherein the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel is one of at least two predefinedtime-domain locations in at least one timeslot; and performing controlchannel detection in the time-domain location of the control channel. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the time-domainlocation of the control channel from the time-domain resource set basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel comprises:determining the time-domain location of the control channel from thetime-domain resource set based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, and a correspondence between the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel and the time-domain location of the controlchannel.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel is a location, relative to a startsymbol of a timeslot, and the time-domain location of the controlchannel is a location, relative to a start symbol of a timeslot.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is located ina synchronization signal block, and a subcarrier width of the broadcastchannel is 30 kHz, a subcarrier width of the control channel is 30 kHz,and the time-domain resource set of the control channel indicated by thebroadcast information includes a symbol with a number 0 in a timeslotand a symbol with a number 1 in a timeslot, wherein the time-domainlocation of the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 2to 5 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe symbol with the number 0 in a timeslot; or the time-domain locationof the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 6 to 9 in atimeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel is the symbolwith the number 1 in a timeslot.
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein the broadcast channel is located in a synchronization signalblock, a subcarrier width of the broadcast channel is 30 kHz, asubcarrier width of the control channel is 30 kHz, and the time-domainresource set of the control channel indicated by the broadcastinformation includes symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in a timeslot andsymbols with numbers 2 to 3 in a timeslot, wherein the time-domainlocation of the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 4to 7 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe symbols with the numbers 0 to 1 in a timeslot; or the time-domainlocation of the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 8to 11 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe symbols with the numbers 2 to 3 in a timeslot.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is located in asynchronization signal block, a subcarrier width of the broadcastchannel is 15 kHz, and a subcarrier width of the control channel is 15kHz, wherein the time-domain location of the synchronization signalblock is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot, the time-domainlocation of the control channel is symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in atimeslot.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcastchannel is located in a synchronization signal block, a subcarrier widthof the broadcast channel is 15 kHz, and a subcarrier width used by thecontrol channel is 15 kHz, wherein the time-domain location of thesynchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in atimeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel is a symbolwith a number 0 in a timeslot.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein a reference signal of the broadcast channel is quasi-co-locatedwith a reference signal of the control channel.
 9. A control informationreceiving apparatus comprising: a storage medium including executableinstructions; and a processor; wherein the executable instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the apparatus to: receive broadcastinformation carried in a broadcast channel, wherein the broadcastinformation includes indication information indicating a time-domainresource set of control channels; determine a time-domain location of acontrol channel from the time-domain resource set based on a time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel, wherein the time-domain location ofthe broadcast channel is one of at least two predefined time-domainlocations in at least one timeslot; and perform control channeldetection in the time-domain location of the control channel.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein determining the time-domainlocation of the control channel from the time-domain resource set basedon the time-domain location of the broadcast channel further comprises:determining the time-domain location of the control channel from thetime-domain resource set based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, and a correspondence between the time-domain locationof the broadcast channel and the time-domain location of the controlchannel.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the time-domainlocation of the broadcast channel is a location, relative to a startsymbol of a timeslot, and the time-domain location of the controlchannel is a location, relative to a start symbol of a timeslot.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the broadcast channel is locatedin a synchronization signal block, and a subcarrier width of thebroadcast channel is 30 kHz, a subcarrier width of the control channelis 30 kHz, and the time-domain resource set of the control channelindicated by the broadcast information includes a symbol with a number 0in a timeslot and a symbol with a number 1 in a timeslot, wherein thetime-domain location of the synchronization signal block is symbols withnumbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the controlchannel is the symbol with the number 0 in a timeslot; or thetime-domain location of the synchronization signal block is symbols withnumbers 6 to 9 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the controlchannel is the symbol with the number 1 in a timeslot.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the broadcast channel is located in asynchronization signal block, a subcarrier width of the broadcastchannel is 30 kHz, a subcarrier width of the control channel is 30 kHz,and the time-domain resource set of the control channel indicated by thebroadcast information includes symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in a timeslotand symbols with numbers 2 to 3 in a timeslot, wherein the time-domainlocation of the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 4to 7 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe symbols with the numbers 0 to 1 in a timeslot; or the time-domainlocation of the synchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 8to 11 in a timeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel isthe symbols with the numbers 2 to 3 in a timeslot.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the broadcast channel is located in asynchronization signal block, a subcarrier width of the broadcastchannel is 15 kHz, and a subcarrier width of the control channel is 15kHz, wherein the time-domain location of the synchronization signalblock is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in a timeslot, the time-domainlocation of the control channel is symbols with numbers 0 to 1 in atimeslot.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the broadcastchannel is located in a synchronization signal block, a subcarrier widthof the broadcast channel is 15 kHz, and a subcarrier width used by thecontrol channel is 15 kHz, wherein the time-domain location of thesynchronization signal block is symbols with numbers 2 to 5 in atimeslot, the time-domain location of the control channel is a symbolwith a number 0 in a timeslot.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 9,wherein a reference signal of the broadcast channel is quasi-co-locatedwith a reference signal of the control channel.
 17. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions,wherein the executable instructions, when executed by a computer, causethe computer to: receive broadcast information carried in a broadcastchannel, wherein the broadcast information includes indicationinformation indicating a time-domain resource set of control channels;determine a time-domain location of a control channel from thetime-domain resource set based on a time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, wherein the time-domain location of the broadcastchannel is one of at least two predefined time-domain locations in atleast one timeslot; and perform control channel detection in thetime-domain location of the control channel.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, whereindetermining the time-domain location of the control channel from thetime-domain resource set based on the time-domain location of thebroadcast channel, the executable instructions, when executed by acomputer, cause the computer to: determine the time-domain location ofthe control channel from the time-domain resource set based on thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel, and a correspondencebetween the time-domain location of the broadcast channel and thetime-domain location of the control channel.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein thetime-domain location of the broadcast channel is a location, relative toa start symbol of a timeslot, and the time-domain location of thecontrol channel is a location, relative to a start symbol of a timeslot.20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according toclaim 17, wherein a reference signal of the broadcast channel isquasi-co-located with a reference signal of the control channel.